Isolation and characteristics of the plasma membrane fraction from the swine myometrium

An accelerated method is developed for isolating a fraction of plasma membranes of pig myometrium using ultracentrifugation within the sucrose density gradient (15% and 30%). The membranes possessed the high activity of 5'-nucleotidase and Na+, K+-ATPase and the low activity of rhotenon-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase. The vesicularized preparations of plasma membranes are able of ATP-dependent accumulation of Ca2+ (7.5 +/- 0.3 nmol. 45Ca2+ per 1 mg of protein for 15 min). Phosphate increases the calcium accumulation in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. Ionophore A 23187 promotes a complete and rapid release of the previously active-accumulated calcium. The release of 45Ca2+ accumulated by the membrane fraction may be reached by introduction of 1 mM EGTA or DS-Na into the incubation medium, that evidences for the cation accumulation inside closed structures. Using concanavalin-A-sepharose 4B it is shown that 60% of membrane vesicles are turned inside out. The low saponine concentrations (0.0005%) which inhibit Ca2+-accumulation by plasma membranes but not by the endoplasmic reticulum inhibit this process by 60-70% in preparations of the isolated membrane fraction. The method has certain advantages over the previously applied methods used for isolating of plasma membrane fragments from smooth muscles.     

ATPase activity and uptake of calcium by a fraction of plasma membrane of rabbit myometrium at functional rest and in pregnancy

Study of the dependence of 45CA2+ binding on its concentration demonstrated that both at functional rest (FR) and in pregnancy the Ca-binding ability of rabbit myometrium subcellular fractions is decreased in the following order: sarcolemma greater than microsomes greater than mitochondria approximately nuclei. The values of Kd for the sarcolemmal Ca2+-binding site complex are identical in both cases (80-87 micro M); however, the maximal calcium-binding capacity of pregnancy is 1.5 times less than in FR. In the plasma membrane fraction of pregnant rabbits the adenosine triphosphatase activity is decreased. The rate of ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake in sarcolemmal fraction is significantly higher than in other subcellular fractions in both conditions. It is concluded that at FR and in pregnancy sarcolemma plays a key role in regulation of ionized calcium concentration in myometrium cells.     

Presence of a high-affinity Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase in rat peritoneal mast-cell membranes.

Purified perigranular and plasma membranes isolated from rat peritoneal mast cells were examined for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity. Isolated perigranular membranes contained only a low-affinity Ca2+- or Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Km greater than 0.5 mM). The plasma membranes contained both a low-affinity Ca2+- or Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Km = 0.4 mM, Vmax. = 20 nmol of Pi/min per mg), as well as a high-affinity Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Km = 0.2 microM, Vmax. = 6 nmol of Pi/min per mg).     

The role of sarcolemma and mitochondria in calcium-dependent control of myometrium relaxation

Using atomic absorption spectroscopy, it was shown that the amount of firmly bound Ca2+ in cattle mitochondria and myometrium sarcolemma is 160 +/- 10 and 30 +/- 10 mumol/kg of wet tissue, respectively. The Ca2+ 1 accumulating capacity of mitochondria (350 nmol per mg of protein) markedly exceeds that of sarcolemmal vesicles (30 nmol per mg of protein). Using a Ca2+-EGTA buffer, it was found that the affinity of ionized Ca for the mitochondrial transport system (Km = 5.69 microM) is higher than that for the Na+-Ca2+ system of sarcolemma exchange (Km = 30 microM), but is markedly lower than that for the Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca2+ efflux (Km = 0.35 microM). A kinetic analysis demonstrated that the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump is incapable of causing complete relaxation of the smooth muscle within the physiologically significant time, whereas the Ca2+ transport system of mitochondria evokes this process within 21 s. However, the contribution of the Ca2+ pump to the regulation of the Ca2+ content in myocytes is paralleled with the accumulation of Ca2+ in mitochondria and is realized at low concentrations of this cation in the myoplasm, i.e., at late steps of relaxation. A mechanism of Ca2+ control over myometrium relaxation is proposed. The system of non-electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchange maintains Ca2+ concentration in the myoplasm as high as 10(-5) M. Mitochondria which accumulate the bulk of Ca2+ rapidly decrease its concentration in the cytoplasm down to 10(-6)-10(-7) M; at these values, the activity of the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump with a high affinity for the transfer substrate is manifested. In this way, the Ca2+ pump accomplishes fine regulation of Ca2+ concentration in the myocytes.     

Rapid isolation of neuroblastoma plasma membranes on Percoll gradients. Characterization and lipid composition

A purified plasma membrane fraction was isolated from cultured neuroblastoma (N1E-115) cells on a discontinuous gradient of 5, 25 and 35% Percoll within 1 h of cell disruption by nitrogen cavitation. Yield of plasma membrane, banding in the 25% Percoll (d = 1.051), was high as judged by the recoveries of the marker enzymes, 5'-nucleotidase (58.0 +/- 5.4%, n = 5), alkaline phosphatase (46.0 +/- 3.0%, n = 4) and Mg2+-stimulated neutral sphingomyelinase (48.0 +/- 4.2%, n = 3); enrichment of specific activities of these enzymes relative to total cell homogenate (lysate) were 10.9 +/- 1.0-, 9.1 +/- 1.0- and 9.6 +/- 0.4-fold, respectively. Levels of marker enzymes for other organelles were less than 3% of total activity, except for microsomes (less than 9%). The plasma membrane fraction was further characterized by 2-, 5- and 6-fold higher content (nmol/mg protein) of total phospholipids, free cholesterol and sphingomyelin, respectively, compared to lysate. Ratios of free cholesterol to phospholipids and of sphingomyelin to phosphatidylcholine in the plasma membrane fraction were about 2-fold greater than that of lysate. The cholesterol ester content of plasma membrane (36 +/- 8 nmol/mg protein) was 2-3-fold higher than that of lysate. Sphingomyelin of the plasma membrane fraction had a higher concentration of long-chain fatty acids (more than 18 carbon atoms) relative to lysate or microsomes. Significant differences also were observed in the fatty acyl composition of diphosphatidylglycerol, cholesterol esters and triacylglycerol of plasma membrane. Thus, we have devised a rapid and reliable method for isolation of highly purified plasma membranes of cultured neuroblastoma cells that is suitable for comparison of metabolic relationships between the plasma membrane and other cellular organelles.     

Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity in brain coated microvesicles purified on immunosorbents

Coated microvesicle fractions isolated from ox forebrain cortex by the ultracentrifugation procedure of Pearse (1) and by the modified, less time consuming method of Keen et al (2) had comparable Ca2+ +Mg2+ dependent ATPase activities (about 9 mumol/h per mg protein). The Na+ +K+ +Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity was 3.2 mumol/h per mg (+/- 1.0, S.D., n = 3) when microvesicles were prepared according to (1) and 1.5 mumol/h per mg (+/- 1.0, S.D., n = 3) when prepared according to (2). Oligomycin, ruthenium red, and trifluoperazine, inhibitors of Ca2+ transport in mitochondria and erythrocyte membranes had no effect on Ca2+ +Mg2+ dependent ATPase from any of the preparations. As demonstrated both by ATPase assays and electron microscopy, coated microvesicles could be bound to immunosorbents prepared with poly-specific antibodies against a coated microvesicle fraction obtained by the method of Pearse (1). The binding could be inhibited by dissolved coat protein using partially purified clathrin. The fraction of coated vesicles eluted from the immunosorbent was purified relative to the starting material as judged by electron microscopy. The Ca2+ +Mg2+ ATPase activity and calmodulin content was copurified with the coated microvesicles and the specific activity of Na+ +K+ +Mg2+ ATPase was decreased. Na+ +K+ +Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity in the coated microvesicle fraction could be ascribed to membranes with the appearance of microsomes. These membranes were also bound to the immunosorbents, but the binding was not influenced by clathrin. The capacity of the immunosorbents for these membranes was less than for the coated microvesicles, resulting in a decrease of Na+ +K+ +Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity in the eluted coated microvesicle fraction. It was concluded that Ca2+ +Mg2+ ATPase activity is not a contamination from plasma membrane vesicles or mitochondrial membranes but seems to be an integral part of the coated vesicle membrane.     

Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase in bovine thyroid plasma membranes

An isolated plasma membrane fraction from bovine thyroid glands contained a Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase ((Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase) activity which was purified in parallel to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and adenylate cyclase. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was maximally stimulated by approx. 200 microM added calcium in the presence of approx. 200 microM EGTA (69.7 +/- 5.2 nmol/mg protein per min). In EGTA-washed membranes, the enzyme was stimulated by calmodulin and inhibited by trifluoperazine.     

ATP-dependent Ca2+-uptake by the plasma membrane fraction of the myometrium

The specific activities of Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase in the plasma membrane fraction of rabbit and cattle myometrium are 8.30 +/- 0.80 and 2.36 +/- 0.48 mkmoles of Pi per mg of protein, respectively. This fraction possesses a higher (in comparison with other subcellular fractions) capacity for ATP-dependent uptake of 45Ca2+ (9.37 +/- 1.66 and 6.86 +/- 0.96 nmoles of 45Ca2+ per mg of protein in 15 min for rabbit and cattle myometrium, respectively); the ratio of ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2+ to adsorbed Ca2+ is also high. Phosphate increases Ca2+ uptake in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. The ionophore A-23187 added to the incubation mixture without ATP and Mg2+ sharply increases Ca2+ binding. An addition of the ionophore at the 15th min of the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake causes a complete and rapid release of the accumulated Ca2+. The release of Ca2+ can be also caused by an addition of Na-DS or EGTA to the incubation mixture. This suggests that Ca2+ is accumulated through the plasma membrane inside the closed structures. It was assumed that myometrial sarcolemma plays an essential role in regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the uterus at rest and that the active Ca2+ efflux from the cells is controlled by the Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase system.     

cAMP-dependent regulation of the active transport of Ca2+ in plasma membranes of the swine myometrium

Plasma membranes of pig myometrium show the ability for endogenous phosphorylation (160 +/- 45 pmol 32P/mg.min); the initial rate of this process increases 2.5-fold in the presence of 10(-6) cAMP. Micromolar concentrations of cAMP activate the ATP-dependent transport of Ca2+ in myometrium plasma membranes; cAMP at concentrations of 10(-9)-10(-4) M has no effect on Ca,Mg-ATPase. Myometrium plasma membranes possess the Mg2+-dependent phosphatase activity. Dephosphorylation of membranes is accompanied by a decrease (by 25-50%) of the Ca,Mg-ATPase activity and Ca2+ uptake, respectively. The exogenous catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase increases the activity of Ca,Mg-ATPase in native and dephosphorylated membranes. Tolbutamide diminishes the activity of Ca,Mg-ATPase in native membranes by 25% without causing any appreciable influence on the enzyme activity in dephosphorylated membranes. Taking into account the similarity of dependence of Ca2+ uptake on Ca2+ concentration in native and cAMP-phosphorylated vesicles, it can be assumed that the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation affects the enzyme turnover number but not its affinity for Ca2+. The dephosphorylation-induced inhibition of Ca,Mg-ATPase activity and accumulation of Ca2+ are reversible processes.     

Properties of adenylate cyclase from plasma membranes of the rabbit myometrium in different functional states

Adenylate cyclase of plasma membranes from the nonpregnant rabbit myometrium shows the maximum activity at pH 7.7-7.9, is characterized by apparent Km for ATP amounting to 0.38 +/- 0.09 mM, V--125 +/- 34.4 pmol min/mg protein, is activated at most by 15-20 mM Mg2+ and F-. Adenylate cyclase of plasma membranes from the pregnant rabbit myometrium is characterized by apparent Km for ATP amounting to 0.74 +/- 0.06 mM, V--77.3 +/- 6.0 pmol/min/mg protein, is activated at most by 5-10 mM Mg2+ and 10-15 mM F-; the pH optimum for the adenylate cyclase in this functional state is 7.3. Adenylate cyclase in the state of labour is characterized by apparent Km for ATP amounting to 0.46 +/- 0.11 mM, V--34.8 +/- 4.6 pmol/min/mg protein, is activated at most by 10-15 mM Mg2+ and F-, shows the same activity at pH 7.3-8.5. Adenylate cyclase of myometrium in three investigated states is activated by 2 mM EGTA; 10(-7) M Ca2+ decreases activation caused by EGTA; higher concentrations of Ca2+ decrease the basal activity of the enzyme.     

Distribution of Ca2+-ATPase, ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport, calmodulin and vitamin D-dependent Ca2+-binding protein along the villus-crypt axis in rat duodenum

The migration of intestinal epithelial cells from the crypts to the tips of villi is associated with progressive cell differentiation. The changes in Ca2+-ATPase activity and ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport rates in basolateral membranes from rat duodenum were measured during migration along the crypt-villus axis. In addition, vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein and calmodulin content were measured in homogenates of six cell populations which were sequentially derived from villus tip to crypt base. Alkaline phosphatase activity was highest at the tip of the villus (fraction I) and decreased more than 20-fold towards the crypt base (fraction VI). (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity also decreased along the villus-crypt axis but in a less pronounced manner than alkaline phosphatase. ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport in basolateral membranes was highest in fraction II (8.2 +/- 0.3 nmol Ca2+/min per mg protein) and decreased slightly towards the villus tip and base (fraction V). The youngest cells in the crypt had the lowest Ca2+-transport activity (0.9 +/- 0.1 nmol Ca2+/min per mg protein). The distribution of high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase activity in basolateral membranes correlated with the distribution of ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport. The activity of Na+/Ca2+ exchange was equal in villus and crypt basolateral membranes. Compared to the ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport system, the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is of minor importance in villus cells but may play a more significant role in crypt cells. Calcium-binding protein decreased from mid-villus towards the villus base and was undetectable in crypt cells. Calmodulin levels were equal along the villus-crypt axis. It is concluded that vitamin D-dependent calcium absorption takes primarily place in villus cells of rat duodenum.     

Ca2+-transporting properties of myometrial plasma cell membrane Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase reconstituted in liposomes

Purified myometrium cells plasma membrane Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase was reconstitute in liposomes in functionally active state by the method of cholate dialysis: it showed ATP-hydrolase activity increased by 0.8 microM A23187 average 4 times and it showed Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-transporting activity. Reconstituted system transported Ca2+ at an initial rate of 114.4 +/- 16.3 nmol.min-1.mg-1 with the stoichiometry Ca2+: ATP = 1: (3.2-3.7). Calmodulin increased by 30% the initial rate of Ca(2+)-accumulation by the proteoliposomes with reconstituted Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase; 0.1 mM orthovanadate decreased by 80% Ca(2+)-accumulation by this system. Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase reconstituted in liposomes is just Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the plasma membrane. Obtained enzyme preparate can be utilised for study of the properties of this important energy-dependent Ca(2+)-transporting system of smooth muscle cell.     

Stimulation of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and phosphatidylcholine synthesis by calcium in rat hepatocytes

The effects of Ca2+, ionophore A23187, and vasopressin on CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase were investigated. Cytidylyltransferase is present in the cytosol and in a membrane-bound form on the microsomes. Digitonin treatment caused release of the cytosolic form rapidly. Addition of 7 mM Ca2+ to hepatocyte medium resulted in a 3-fold decrease in cytidylyltransferase released by digitonin treatment (1.7 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg compared to 5.1 +/- 0.2 nmol/min per mg in the control). Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, partially overcame this effect of Ca2+. Ionophore A23187 and vasopressin both mimicked the effect of Ca2+ and resulted in a decrease in cytidylyltransferase release (2.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg and 2.5 +/- 0.2 nmol/min per mg, respectively) compared to control (3.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg). In agreement with the digitonin experiments, incubation with 7 mM Ca2+ resulted in a decrease in cytidylyltransferase in the cytosol (from 4.0 to 1.2 mol/min per mg) and a corresponding increase in the microsomes (from 0.6 to 2.4 nmol/min per mg). Verapamil partially blocked this translocation caused by Ca2+. Ionophore A23187 and vasopressin also caused translocation of the cytidylyltransferase from the cytosol to the microsomes. The addition of Ca2+ also resulted in an increase in PC synthesis. With 7 mM Ca2+ in the medium, the label associated with PC increased to 3.8 +/- 0.1.10(6) dpm/dish from 2.7 +/- 0.1.10(6) dpm/dish after 10 min. PC degradation was also affected, since 7 mM Ca2+ in the medium resulted in an increase in LPC formation both in the cell and the medium. We conclude that high concentrations of calcium in the hepatocyte medium can cause a stimulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and PC synthesis in cultured hepatocytes.     

Quantitative determination of Ca2+-dependent Mg2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle biopsies.

The possibility of quantifying the total concentration of Ca2+-dependent Mg2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum was investigated by measurement of the Ca2+-dependent steady-state phosphorylation from [gamma-32P]ATP and the Ca2+-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase (3-O-MFPase) activity in crude muscle homogenates. The Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation at 0 degree C (mean +/- S.E.) was 40.0 +/- 2.5 (n = 6) and 6.2 +/- 0.7 (n = 4) nmol/g wet wt. in rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscle, respectively (P less than 0.001). The Ca2+-dependent 3-O-MFPase activity at 37 degrees C was 1424 +/- 238 (n = 6) and 335 +/- 56 (n = 4) nmol/min per g wet wt. in rat EDL and soleus muscle, respectively (P less than 0.01). The molecular activity calculated from these measurements amounted to 35 +/- 5 min-1 (n = 6) and 55 +/- 10 min-1 (n = 4) for EDL and soleus muscle respectively. These values were not different from the molecular activity calculated for purified Ca2+-ATPase (36 min-1). The Ca2+-dependent 32P incorporation in soleus muscle decreased in the order mice greater than rats greater than guinea pigs. In EDL muscles from hypothyroid rats at a 30% reduction of the Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation was observed. The Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation in vastus lateralis muscle from three human subjects amounted to 4.5 +/- 0.8 nmol/g wet wt. It is concluded that measurement of the Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation allows rapid and reproducible quantification of the concentration of Ca2+-dependent Mg2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Since only 20-60 mg of tissue is required for the measurements, the method can also be used for biopsies obtained in clinical studies.     

A method for determining the kinetic characteristics of Ca2+-transporting systems of subcellular structures in smooth muscle

A simple method is suggested to determine kinetic characteristics of the Ca2+ active transport systems in the smooth muscle. The use of this method has shown that the initial rate of Ca2+ accumulation in the myometrium mitochondria (57.5 nmol per 1 mg of protein/1 min) is 50 times higher than in the sarcolemma vesicles. The calcium capacity of mitochondria (254 nmol per 1 mg of protein) also exceeds essentially (36 times) that of the membrane vesicles. Meanwhile, the Ca2+-transporting systems of these two subcellular structures practically do not differ from each other in the magnitude of the cation semiaccumulation period (4-7 min).     

Modulators of transmembrane calcium exchange in myometrium mitochondria change their hydrodynamic diameter

The influence of modulators of calcium exchange in mitochondria--oligomycin, Mg2+ and ruthenium red (RuR)--on the myometrium mitochondria size and granularity was studied in the work. The study of the mitochondria size was carried out using the photon correlation spectroscopy. It was shown that the average hydrodynamic diameter was 655 +/- 14 nm (n = 5; control). The addition of oligomycin (1 microg/ml)--the inhibitor of ATP-synthase F0-component, increases the mitochondria average hydrodynamic diameter to 913 +/- 75 nm (n = 5), that is by 39% more than the control. In the presence of RuR (10 microM) (Ca2(+)-uniporter inhibitor) and Mg2+ (7 mM) the mitochondria average hydrodynamic diameter increases to 788 +/- 28 and 788 +/- 38 nm (n = 5) respectively, that is by 17% more than the control. Using flow cytometry it was shown, that oligomycin (1 microg/ml) causes the increase of side scattering of the mitochondria. Addition of RuR (10 microM) and Mg2+ (7 mM) does not lead to significant changes in side scattering of the mitochondria. So it was shown that oligomycin significantly increases mitochondria granularity, but Mg2+ and RuR have no influence on this parameter     

Calcium transport ATPase of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. A comparison with that of rabbit fast skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

To define the mechanism responsible for the slow rate of calcium transport by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, the kinetic properties of the Ca2+-dependent ATPase of canine cardiac microsomes were characterized and compared with those of a comparable preparation from rabbit fast skeletal muscle. A phosphoprotein intermediate (E approximately P), which has the stability characteristics of an acyl phosphate, is formed during ATP hydrolysis by cardiac microsomes. Ca2+ is required for the E approximately P formation, and Mg2+ accelerates its decomposition. The Ca2+ concentration required for half-maximal activation of the ATPase is 4.7 +/- 0.2 muM for cardiac microsomes and 1.3 +/- 0.1 muM for skeletal microsomes at pH 6.8 and 0 degrees. The ATPase activities at saturating concentrations of ionized Ca2+ and pH 6.8, expressed as ATP hydrolysis per mg of protein, are 3 to 6 times lower for cardiac microsomes than for skeletal microsomes under a variety of conditions tested. The apparent Km value for MgATP at high concentrations in the presence of saturating concentrations of ionized Ca2+ is 0.18 +/- 0.03 ms at pH 6.8 and 25 degrees. The maximum velocity of ATPase activity under these conditions is 0.45 +/- 0.05 mumol per mg per min for cardiac microsomes and 1.60 +/- 0.05 mumol per mg per min for skeletal microsomes. The maximum steady state level of E approximately P for cardiac microsomes, 1.3 +/- 0.1 nmol per mg, is significantly less than the value of 4.9 +/- 0.2 nmol per mg for skeletal microsomes, so that the turnover number of the Ca2+-dependent ATPase of cardiac microsomes, calculated as the ratio of ATPase activity to the E approximately P level is similar to that of the skeletal ATPase. These findings indicate that the relatively slow rate of calcium transport by cardiac microsomes, whem compared to that of skeletal microsomes, reflects a lower density of calcium pumping sites and lower Ca2+ affinity for these sites, rather than a lower turnover rate.     

A novel 1,4-dihydropyridine-binding site on mitochondrial membranes from guinea-pig heart, liver and kidney.

The 1,4-dihydropyridine (+/-)-[3H]nitrendipine reversibly binds to mitochondrial preparations from guinea-pig heart with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 593 +/- 77 nM and a maximum density of binding sites (Bmax.) of 1.75 +/- 0.27 nmol/mg of protein. This low-affinity high-capacity 1,4-dihydropyridine-binding site does not discriminate between the enantiomers of nitrendipine and is also found in mitochondrial membranes from guinea-pig liver (Kd 586 +/- 91 nM; Bmax. 0.36 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg of protein) and kidney (Kd 657 +/- 149 nM; Bmax. 0.56 +/- 0.12 nmol/mg of protein). Phenylalkylamines (e.g. verapamil) inhibit ( +/- )-[3H]nitrendipine binding with micromolar inhibition constants, but the benzothiazepine D-cis-diltiazem, a potent Ca2+-channel blocker, is without effect. The binding is heat-stable, shows a V-shaped pH-dependence with a minimum around pH 7.0, and is strongly dependent on ionic strength in the incubation medium. The cations La3+ greater than Cd2+ much greater than Co2+ greater than Ca2+ much greater than Ba2+ greater than Mg2+ greater than Li+ greater than Na+ and the anions NO3- greater than C1- greater than or equal to F- stimulate the binding, whereas PO4(3-) greater than SO4(2-) slightly inhibit it. The low-affinity ( +/- )-[3H]nitrendipine-binding site located on the mitochondrial inner membrane is biochemically and pharmacologically different from the 1,4-dihydropyridine-receptor domain of the L-type Ca2+ channel. Furthermore, it is not identical with any of the low-affinity 1,4-dihydropyridine-binding sites described so far.     

Characteristics of Mg2+-dependent, ATP-activated Ca2+ transport in synaptic and microsomal membranes and in permeabilized synaptosomes

Synaptic plasma membranes isolated from rat brain exhibited a Ca2+ transport process that was strictly dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and activated by ATP hydrolysis. The characteristics of this ATP-activated transport process included a high affinity for Ca2+ and ATP with the Kact for these two substrates being 0.7 and 5 microM, respectively, and a lower affinity for Mg2+, Kact = 54 microM. The estimated constants for ATP-activated Ca2+ transport into synaptic membrane vesicles and the dependence of such transport on Mg2+ were indicative that such transport was related to the previously described high affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase in synaptic membranes. An ATP- and Mg2+-dependent Ca2+ transport process with very similar kinetic characteristics was present also in a general microsomal membrane fraction obtained from brain tissue. The synaptic and microsomal membrane ATP-activated transport processes exhibited differences in their sensitivity to vanadate inhibition. Interaction with vanadate was fairly complex and best analyzed by a two-component model. Thus, the estimated Ki values for vanadate were 0.2 and 6.6 microM for the synaptic membranes and 0.7 and 13.8 microM for the microsomes. Since the microsomal membranes contain a substantial population of intraneuronal endoplasmic reticulum vesicles, the effects of vanadate on Ca2+ transport into intraneuronal membrane organelles, other than mitochondria, was determined in saponin-permeabilized synaptosomes. The estimated Ki values for vanadate inhibition of Ca2+ transport activity were 0.7 and 13 microM. The accumulation of Ca2+ into synaptic plasma membrane vesicles was readily reversed by activation of the Na+-Ca2+ exchange carrier, whereas the Ca2+ associated with intrasynaptosomal organelles was not affected by changes in [Na+]. Thus, there are at least two ATP-dependent Ca2+ transporting processes localized on two distinct neuronal membranes, one on the plasma membrane and the second on intraneuronal membranes.     

Characterization of calcium binding to brush-border membranes from rat duodenum.

The Ca2+-binding properties of isolated brush-border membranes at physiological ionic strength and pH were examined by rapid Millipore filtration. A comprehensive analysis of the binding data suggested the presence of two types of Ca2+-binding sites. The high-affinity sites, Ka = (6.3 +/- 3.3) X 10(5) M-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.), bound 0.8 +/- 0.1 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein and the low-affinity sites, Ka = (2.8 +/- 0.3) X 10(2) M-1, bound 33 +/- 3.5 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein. The high-affinity site exhibited a selectivity for Ca2+, since high concentrations of competing bivalent cations were required to inhibit Ca2+ binding. The relative effectiveness of the competing cations (1 and 10 mM) for the high-affinity site was Mn2+ approximately equal to Sr2+ greater than Ba2+ greater than Mg2+. Data from the pH studies, treatment of the membranes with carbodi-imide and extraction of phospholipids with aqueous acetone and NH3 provided evidence that the low-affinity sites were primarily phospholipids and the high-affinity sites were either phosphoprotein or protein with associated phospholipid. Two possible roles for the high-affinity binding sites are suggested. Either high-affinity Ca2+ binding is involved with specific enzyme activities or Ca2+ transport across the luminal membrane occurs via a Ca2+ channel which contains a high-affinity Ca2+-specific binding site that may regulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and gating of the channel.